Method and device for removing lamination

ABSTRACT

In a process and an apparatus for detaching a lining of thin composite material from a central region, the detachment operation is effected in a continuous procedure with the composite material in the form of an endless web. The composite material passes as a treatment region successively through an initial dissolution region and a deactivation region, in each of which inter alia moisture is fed to the composite material. The residence times in those regions are controllable independently of each other and at least at the end of those regions a respective operation for the preliminary removal of moisture from the composite material is effected. After the last region the composite material is subjected to a drying operation and the lining is detached from the central material by their being moved away from each other.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for detaching a thincomposite material from a central region. In that respect the centralregion may be in particular a paper or a material comprising a pluralityof layers using paper.

This is the case in particular in regard to the restoration of books,manuscripts, notes, magazines and journals, loose-leaf collections, filerecords and the like, in which the original sheets or leaves are madegood by repairing flaws and introducing a core layer.

That results in a composite material comprising a central core layer, towhich the original halves of the leaf or format or page of the book,having been separated along the central plane, are glued on both sidesby means of a core adhesive, while applied in turn to theabove-mentioned halves on the outsides thereof by means of a liningadhesive is a respective lining or laminating backing which serves inparticular for the handling procedure in the preceding working steps.

As the last processing stage, the lining on the two sides now has to beremoved again in order to regain the original page which has beensupplemented by the core layer.

In this respect the composite material generally occurs in the form ofsubstantially endless webs or strips which are wound on to large windingdrums, referred to as reels, with the individual pages of the book beingdisposed on the composite material in part in a multiple configurationin mutually juxtaposed relationship and one behind the other, arrangedto constitute what are referred to as formats.

Detachment of the lining is effected by dissolving the above-mentionedlining adhesive, mostly gelatin, by the action of enzymes at an optimumoperative temperature. Theoretically, detachment would also be possibleonly by long-term action of moisture or water, and possibly elevatedtemperature, which however would result in such a long period of actionthat treatment in a continuous-operation procedure is difficult. Howeverit is only a continuous treatment procedure that makes it possibleoverall to achieve low restoration costs.

Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a processand an apparatus for carrying it into effect, with which rapid andinexpensive detachment of the linings from the central material ispossible, while the detachment result can be easily influenced andcontrolled.

By virtue of the fact that detachment of the lining is implemented in acontinuous procedure, on the one hand the efficiency of the process canbe increased and on the other hand it is possible to involve control andregulating procedures which are not possible in a single-sheet treatmentor batch-wise treatment, as the previous settings in respect of theprevious item or the previous batch are no longer available when dealingwith the next one.

In order to be able to operate in a continuous procedure, the compositematerial to be treated is supplied either by being unwound from adelivery reel on which the composite material is wound or directly fromthe preceding processing unit which first produces the lining composite.

Because of the long path of movement through the present machine, inbatch treatment, that is to say when feeding the composite material tobe treated from a delivery reel, operation is not effected directly withthe beginning of the composite material when starting up the batchtreatment. On the contrary, firstly, generally by hand, a flexiblepulling or draw band which consists of rubber is pulled in through themachine until the leading end has reached the last drawing or pullingfeed rollers near the cutting station. The trailing end of the pullingor draw band is connected to the leading end of the composite materialon the delivery reel, for example by a clip fastener involvingforce-locking engagement.

In that respect, the pulling or draw band is generally somewhat thickerthan the composite material to be treated and in particular the pullingor draw band is somewhat wider than the composite material. Shouldersare provided on the direction-changing rollers or pressing rollers atthe sides thereof, the internal spacing of the shoulders being onlyslightly greater than or of the same magnitude as the width of thepulling or draw band. The pulling or draw band is therefore guided inpositively engaged relationship in the transverse direction by thoseshoulders which are present at least in relation to some of the drums orrollers. That already ensures that the pulling or draw band isintroduced straight, and the composite material joined thereto is alsothereby already roughly aligned. Fine alignment is effected byadditional control means which are described hereinafter, but in generalthe composite material should never reach the further outwardly disposedcontact or abutment shoulders on the drums or rollers for the pulling ordraw band.

After the machine has started up, the pulling or draw band is removedfrom the beginning or leading end of the composite material and, whenthe composite material delivery bobbin is coming to the end, it isjoined again to the end of the composite material. The compositematerial itself thereby again pulls the pulling or draw band through themachine so that it can be left in that position and can thus be used asthe leader band for introducing the next length of composite materialfrom the next delivery bobbin. That means that it is only necessary tothread the material into the machine by hand on a single occasion whenthe machine is first started.

The water from the treatment units is also preferably circulated. Inparticular it is passed in the dip or immersion tanks or containers incounter-flow relationship with respect to the direction of travel of thecomposite material to be treated, the above-mentioned direction of flowbeing achieved by stepped overflows from the rearmost to the foremostdip or immersion tanks.

The water which evaporates out of the immersion tanks or containers ispreferably condensed and returned to the water circuit.

The composite material in web form successively passes throughpreferably a plurality of treatment steps, for example an initialdissolution region, a deactivation region and possibly a rinsing region,in each of which inter alia moisture is supplied to the compositematerial. The residence times in those individual regions are preferablycontrollable independently of each other so that in the event of poordetachment or premature detachment of the lining the period of action ofthe individual dissolution or treatment agents on the composite materialcan be suitably adjusted.

At the end of each of those regions, the procedure preferably involvesan operation for rough or preliminary removal of moisture from thecomposite material in order to expel the moisture which is absorbed inthe composite material and for the major part to prevent the individualagents from passing across into the next following treatment region.After the last treatment step the composite material is finally driedand the lining released from the central material by moving them apart.

In that respect, for carefully detaching the lining from pages of a bookwhich are often very valuable, it is important to be able to accuratelyadjust the residence time of the composite material in the individualtreatment regions. A simple option in that respect is to vary thetransit or passage distance of the composite material in strip formwhich is moved at a uniform speed, so that the residence time in theindividual regions is also altered.

In regard to the treatment, attention is to be paid in particular to thephysical and chemical properties of the lining adhesives used, incomparison with the core adhesive, by means of which the centralmaterial, for example the separated halves of a page of a book, areglued on the core material. The core adhesive is not to lose itsadhesion under the physical or chemical conditions under which thelining adhesive loses adhesion, as otherwise the central materialdisintegrates again.

The treatment region preferably includes an initial dissolution region,a deactivation region and a rinsing region, which is not required underall circumstances, with the composite material in web form passingthrough those regions in the stated sequence.

In the initial dissolution region the composite material is subjected tothe action of or is dipped into an aqueous solution which containsbetween 1 and 5%, in particular 2% enzymes, which is at a temperature ofbetween 50 and 65° C., in particular 60° C.

In the deactivation region the composite material is heated to at least70° C., in particular to between 70 and 80° C., by a procedure wherebyit is brought into contact with a suitably temperature-controlledaqueous solution, in particular the aqueous solution of the initialdissolution region.

In the rinsing region the composite material is rinsed clear with wateror vapour or steam which does not contain any enzymes.

A particularly intensive and therefore rapid treatment is carried out onthe composite material if it passes through fluid-filled dip orimmersion regions, in which case for example the initial dissolutionregion or the deactivation region or the rinsing region respectively canbe formed separately as fluid-dip or immersion regions.

Another effective alternative procedure would involve for example actingon the composite material by means of steam or vapour in the respectivetreatment regions which are each equipped with steam or vapour dischargeor spray nozzles, as an alternative to the dipping procedure.

In order to achieve long residence times and correspondingly intensivetreatment for the composite material in the individual treatmentregions, the composite material in web form can pass a plurality oftimes through an individual region in a wound or loop-likeconfiguration, with direction-changing rollers over which the web passesbeing disposed within the tanks or containers.

A similarly intensive treatment is achieved if the individual regionsare each of a multi-stage nature, that is to say, provided within eachregion are spaces or chambers which are separated from each other and inwhich the composite material is subjected to treatment. Treatment of thecomposite material is then effected two or more times in succession andcan be carried out either with the same operating procedures, forexample involving spraying, or using different operating procedures, forexample vapour or steam treatment and dipping.

Between the individual chambers or spaces of a treatment region, thecomposite material is preferably subjected to a mechanical operation forthe rough or preliminary removal of moisture therefrom, by the compositematerial being passed between two rollers which expel excessive fluid.Those pressing rollers are preferably arranged immediately after theexit of the web, above each space or chamber, so that the expelled fluidcan run back or drip into the respective space or chamber. The fact thatthe moisture is expelled from the composite material before it passesinto the next following space or chamber on the one hand for the majorpart prevents mixing of the treatment agents while on the other hand itaffords uniform penetration of moisture through the composite material.

After the last treatment step the entire composite material passes intoa drying section. Drying of the composite material can be effected in asingle-stage procedure, for example by contact drying, or for example ina multi-stage procedure, being divided up in particular into apreliminary drying operation and a main drying operation. In thepreliminary drying operation moisture can be sucked out of the compositematerial by means of an absorbent dry material such as for examplefleece or non-woven material.

The composite material then also passes horizontally into a drying boxhaving a substantially closed housing through which dry air flows. Theair can possibly be heated before flowing into the drying box.

These surfaces are preferably of such a shape and arrangement that acurvature of the composite material is effected around an axis ofcurvature transversely with respect to the direction of travel of thecomposite material. The dry air which flows through the drying boxabsorbs moisture as it flows past the composite material and transportsthe moisture out of the drying box.

It is only after leaving the drying box that the composite materialpreferably passes into a pull-off station in which the lining isdetached from the central material. The lining and the central materialare preferably guided away from each other by diverting the liningaround two detachment rollers operating in opposite relationship, in adiametral direction. The linings from the top side and the underside arethen wound on to separate lining reels which are disposed above andbeneath the composite material web.

Preferably, detachment of the two linings which are disposed on theoutward sides of the central material takes place simultaneously, thatis to say at the same location at which the material passes through themachine, by the linings being moved away from each other in diametraldirections and by the central material being continued in its movementin the direction of travel through the machine.

Downstream of the pull-off station, the remaining central materialpasses into a cutting station in which the formats which are in partmultiply arranged in mutually juxtaposed relationship and one after theother are cut again to their original size.

For the purposes of accurate longitudinal alignment there can beprovided for example a control or regulating means which checks withoptical means whether for example a format is or is not under thecutting member and which suitably controls the conveyor rollers and thecutting blade.

The surest method of cutting the material to size is a process in whichonly sheets of a given size are cut from the web of central material andthe individual pages of the book are then cut to size by hand. Inproduction of the formats, the pages are therefore only arranged onpredetermined regions so that a lateral edge portion remains free, whichcan be reliably cut by machine.

The transverse displacement is preferably detected by reference to thespacing of the composite web from a perpendicular central wall, andregulated if required.

The reels, like all other structural units which extend over the widthof the composite web, are mounted only at one side, that is to say infreely cantilevered relationship on the perpendicular central wall whichforms the machine frame structure. It is along that central wall thatthe composite material web is guided horizontally, treated, dried andfinally cut again. In that respect, the straightness of the movement ofthe web is monitored by means of one or more sensors which sense thelateral edge of the composite web and measure the spacing of the edgerelative to the central wall.

Provided in the course of the path of movement, in particular at thebeginning and the end, are direction-changing rollers which are slightlypivotable independently of each other about a pivot axis which isperpendicular to the axis of rotation of the direction-changing rollersand which is approximately in the direction of travel of the web. Inthat way, it is possible to adjust the direction of travel, that is tosay the straight-ahead movement, of the web passing thereover, in whichrespect the angle of wrapping of the web around the rollers should be atleast 90°.

In order to achieve accurate transverse alignment, the rollers of thepull-off and cutting stations can also be regulatable at their axis ofrotation. In addition the delivery reel on which the composite materialis wound is variable in terms of its spacing relative to the centralwall and is regulatable by means of a signal from the spacing sensors.

The apparatus according to the invention for the detachment of thelining of a thin composite material from a central material preferablyincludes a dip or immersion region comprising successively connected dipor immersion tanks or containers, a main drying means with heated curvedheating surfaces and a pull-off station with an oppositely acting pairof detachment rollers at which the linings are separated from thecentral material and moved away from each other. These working stationsare preferably arranged in direct succession.

Optionally, also disposed upstream of the main drying means is apreliminary drying means with a pair of pressing rollers which bringsthe composite material into contact under pressure with an absorbentmaterial.

Disposed upstream of the dip or immersion region is a delivery reel onwhich the composite material is wound.

The residence time of the composite material in the individual tanks orcontainers of the dip or immersion region can be adjusted bydisplacement of dip or immersion rollers which can be vertically loweredand raised within the dip containers. The dip rollers are guidedvertically along dip arms and are displaceable into the dip containers.The composite material in web form passes over the underside of the diprollers and over the top side of direction-changing rollers which arearranged above and outside the dip containers.

Each treatment region preferably comprises a plurality of successivelyconnected, in particular two respective dip containers, into each ofwhich a dip roller can be moved. The depth of dip engagement of each diproller along the dip arm is variable separately for each dip container.

The dip region is substantially sealingly enclosed by a dip or immersionhousing in order to prevent solvents and the like from running out. Thedip housing however has a dip region suction removal means for suctionremoval of the vapors occurring in the dip or immersion region, beingarranged in the upper region thereof.

The individual dip containers are also in particular electricallyheatable and are regulatable separately in respect of their temperature.Provided above each dip container is a direction-changing roller and apressing roller which co-operates therewith, for expelling fluid fromthe composite material which passes through between them. The rollersare arranged in such a way that the expelled fluid flows back into therespective dip container.

A particularly intensive and efficient treatment of the compositematerial is achieved if vapor discharge nozzles which are directedtowards the composite material are disposed within the dip containers.The vapor discharge nozzles can be arranged for example in the dip armsfor the dip rollers.

After the last treatment step the composite web passes into a dryingsection. If necessary, at a preliminary drying station the compositematerial is passed through between a pair of pressing rollers, whereinan absorbent material such as for example an absorbent fleece ornon-woven material belt or band is guided over each of the pressingrollers.

The pressing rollers do not necessarily have to be driven. The absorbentmaterial is then entrained by the forward feed movement of the compositeweb between the rollers. When a relatively high level of pressing forceon the part of the rollers is involved however it is advantageous todrive at least one pressing roller in order to prevent prematuredetachment of the lining.

At a location remote from the pressing rollers, the moisture containedin the endlessly circulating fleece or non-woven material belts ispreferably acted upon by a moisture suction removal procedure or themoisture is blown out.

The main drying operation or the subsequent main drying operation iseffected in a substantially closed main drying box through which dryingair flows. The dry air, in particular pre-dried air, passes by way of amain drying inlet into the drying box and leaves it after passing alongthe composite web and receiving moisture by way of a main drying suctionremoval procedure.

The main drying station includes in the direction of movement throughthe apparatus a plurality of successively arranged curved heatingsurfaces, the temperature of which is separately controllable. Thecurved heating surfaces are arranged in opposite relationship to eachother, with outwardly pointing apex points, so that the compositematerial which passes over the respective outside surfaces thereof isguided in a corrugated path of movement.

Arranged upstream of the first heating surface and downstream of thelast heating surface, that is to say at the beginning and the end of themain drying box, are respective direction-changing rollers.

At least one pair of drive rollers, between which the composite materialis passed, is arranged within the main drying box, preferablyapproximately at the middle of the length of the path of movement of thematerial through the apparatus. The heating surfaces are curved inparticular about axes of curvature which are disposed transversely withrespect to the direction of movement of the material through theapparatus and in particular they are arranged alternately above andbelow the main direction of travel of the material so that the compositematerial is guided in a corrugated path of movement.

The composite web leaves the main drying box preferably in a horizontaldirection and thereafter passes into the guide rollers of the pull-offstation. The guide rollers guide the composite web preferably preciselyhorizontally between the detachment rollers, in particular in such a waythat the angle of introduction of the web with respect to the one rolleris equal to the angle of introduction of the web with respect to theother roller. The detachment rollers are of a diameter of between about80 and 150 mm, in particular between 90 and 110 mm.

Connected downstream of the draw-off station is a cutting station forcutting the central material in web form into individual sheets.Disposed between the detachment station and the cutting station is aloop-forming assembly comprising a first pair of loop rollers and asecond pair of loop rollers which are driven separately so that stoppingthe second pair which is downstream in the direction of travel of thematerial and further driving of the first pair of loop rollers, causesthe formation between the pairs of an increasing loop of centralmaterial. While that is happening the central material is stationary atthe downstream-disposed cutting station and can there be cut to formsheets.

Arranged downstream of the cutting station is a conveyor belt for theindividual sheets and an obliquely downwardly inclined delivery orstacking table.

For regulation of the transverse movement of the composite web, thedelivery bobbin is mounted with its tube on a clamping core which issupported at one end in the central wall and which in particular isdisplaceable relative thereto in its axial direction.

In addition in regard to the apparatus according to the inventionconsideration should be given to the following details individuallyand/or in respect of the co-operation thereof:

effected prior to the main drying operation is a preliminary dryingoperation with a pair of pressing rollers which brings the compositematerial into contact under pressure with an absorbent material;

arranged upstream of the dip region is a delivery bobbin on which thecomposite material is wound;

each dip container or tank comprises a plurality of successivelyconnected and in particular two respective dip tanks or containers, anda dip roller is movable in each individual dip container;

the depth of dip engagement of each dip roller along the dip arm isseparately variable;

all dip arms are fixed to a common support frame and the support frameis overall displaceable in such a way that all dip rollers are jointlyremovable from their dip containers;

the dip region is substantially sealingly enclosed by a dip housing;

arranged on the dip housing is a dip region suction removal means forsuction removal of the vapors occurring in the dip region, beingdisposed in the upper region;

the individual dip containers are heatable, in particular electricallyheatable, and can be separately regulated in terms of their temperature;

at least at the direction-changing roller disposed at the end of eachdip container is a pressing roller which co-operates therewith forexpelling fluid from the composite material which passes between them,whereby the expelled fluid flows back into the respective dip container;

vapor discharge nozzles directed towards the composite material aredisposed in the dip containers;

vapor discharge nozzles are arranged in the dip arms for the diprollers:

at least one of the pressing rollers is driven;

the endless circulating fleece or non-woven material belts or bands, ata location remote from the pressing rollers, is acted upon by a moisturesuction removal means or the moisture is blown out, in order to removethe moisture contained in the belts or bands;

the main drying operation is effected in a substantially closed maindrying box which has a main drying suction removal means for themoisture-laden air and a main drying inlet for the introduction of dryair, in particular dried air;

the main drying means has in the direction of travel of the material insuccession a plurality of curved heating surfaces which are separatelycontrollable in respect of their temperature and which are so arrangedrelative to each other that the composite material is guided over theirrespective outside surfaces;

a respective direction-changing roller is disposed upstream of the firstheating surface and downstream of the last heating surface;

arranged within the main drying box, preferably approximately at thecenter of the travel length thereof, is at least one pair of driverollers, between which the composite material is passed;

the heating surfaces are curved about axes of curvature which aredisposed transversely with respect to the direction of travel of themachine and which in particular are disposed alternately above and belowthe main direction of travel through the main drying means;

the detachment rollers are of a diameter of between 80 and 150 mm, inparticular between 90 and 110 mm;

connected downstream of the pull-off station is a cutting station forcutting the central material in web form into individual sheets;

arranged between the detachment station and the cutting station is aloop-forming assembly comprising a first pair of loop rollers and asecond pair of loop rollers which are driven separately so that stoppingthe second pair of loop rollers and continuing to drive the first pairof loop rollers causes the formation therebetween of an increasing loopof central material while the downstream-disposed cutting station cancut the stationary central material; and

arranged downstream of the cutting station are a conveyor belt for theindividual sheets and an inclinedly downwardly directed sheet deposit orstacking unit.

An embodiment according to the invention will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1 and 1b.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus; and

FIG. 1b is a view of a part of FIG. 1 on a different scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, shown therein is a front view of the machinein which, from left to right in the direction of travel of the materialthrough the machine, the composite web 1 to be processed is unwound froma delivery reel 13 and passed by way of an upper direction-changingroller 18 into a dip or immersion region 4. Arranged downstream of thedip region 4 is a drying section comprising a preliminary drying means 5and a main drying means 6 in which the composite material 1 is dried.The actual operation of pulling the lining 2 off the central material 3is then effected at a pull off station 7. Finally, at adownstream-disposed cutting station 17, the central material 3 fromwhich the lining 2 a, 2 b has been removed is cut into sheets anddeposited on a sheet deposit or stacking unit 35.

The entire path of movement of the composite web can be clearly seen inthis respect in the front view as all reels, direction-changing rollersand pressing rollers are supported at one end, only on their rear endthat is remote from the person looking at the drawing, on theperpendicularly disposed central wall 37, so that they are in aforwardly freely cantilevered relationship. That means that the path ofmovement of the web can be readily viewed by the operator and it is alsopossible at any time to clearly view changes which are implemented byadjustments at the machine.

Arranged upstream of the dip region 4 is firstly a delivery reel 13 onwhich the composite material 1 is wound. The composite material 1 isunwound from the delivery reel 13 and the intermediate layer which isalso wound on to the reel is wound on to an intermediate layer reel 15disposed therebeneath.

The composite web 1 is drawn off the delivery reel 13 which ispermanently braked by a coupling, and passes by way of an upperdirection-changing roller 18 into the first tank or container 4 a of theinitial dissolution region. The processing region 4 is divided into aninitial dissolution region, a deactivation region and a rinsing region,which are in the form of separate, fluid-filled dip or immersionregions. The initial dissolution region, the deactivation region and therinsing region are each in turn subdivided into two mutually separatedip or immersion tanks or containers 4 a, 4 a′, 4 b, 4 b′, 4 c, 4 c′.Arranged in each dip container 4 a, 4 a′, 4 b, 4 b′, 4 c, 4 c′ are dipor immersion rollers 19 for dipping in the composite material 1, whichrollers 19 can be vertically lowered along dip arms 40 into the dipcontainers 4 a, 4 b, 4 c. The composite material 1 in web form passesaround the underside of the dip rollers 19 and over the top side of thedirection-changing rollers 18 which are arranged above and outside thedip containers 4 a, 4 b, 4 c.

A dip roller 19 can be displaced into each of the dip containers, andthe depth of dip engagement of the roller 19 along the dip arm 40 isseparately variable.

The dip region 4 is substantially sealingly enclosed by a dip housing 41on which is arranged a dip region suction removal means 22, in the upperregion thereof, for suction removal of the vapors which occur in the dipregion.

The individual dip containers 4 a, 4 a′, 4 b, 4 b′, 4 c, 4 c′ are forexample electrically heatable and can be separately regulated in respectof their temperature. Arranged above and between the respective dipcontainers are a direction-changing roller 18 and a pressing roller 20which cooperates therewith. The pressing roller 20 presses the fluid outof the composite material 1 which is passing through between the rollersso that the expelled fluid flows back into the respective dip container4 a, 4 b, 4 c. That prevents the individual fluids from excessivelyrapidly mixing together.

Arranged in the dip containers 4 a, 4 b, 4 c are respective steam orvapor discharge nozzles (not shown) which are disposed on the dip arms40 for the dip rollers 19.

In the initial dissolution region the composite material 1 is broughtinto contact with an aqueous solution which contains 2% of enzymes, at atemperature of 60° C. In the subsequent deactivation region thecomposite material 1 is dipped into the same aqueous solution as theinitial dissolution region, at a temperature of 80° C. In the rinsingregion, the composite material 1 is finally rinsed clear with water orsteam or vapor which does not contain any enzymes.

After the last treatment step, namely rinsing in the container 4 c′, thecomposite web is once again passed between a direction-changing roller18 and a pressing roller 20 and preferably horizontally passed in thetravel direction 10 over a further direction-changing roller to thepreliminary drying station 5.

The preliminary drying means 5 operates using the procedure of contactdrying and includes a pair of pressing rollers 11 a, 11 b between whichthe composite material 1 is passed, an absorbent fleece or non-wovenmaterial belt 24 a, 24 b being passed over each of the pressing rollers11 a, 11 b. The pressing roller 11 a is driven by a motor at the speedof the composite web 1.

This arrangement ensures that not too much friction occurs between thepressing rollers 11 a, 11 b and the lining 2 of the composite material,and the lining 2 is not prematurely detached from the composite material1.

The endlessly circulating fleece or non-woven material belts 24 a, 24 b,at a location remote from the pressing rollers 11 a, 11 b, at theunderside of the vertically circulating belts 24 a, 24 b, are subjectedto the action of a moisture suction removal means 25 a, 25 b, wherebythe major part of the moisture received by the belts 24 a, 24 b isremoved.

The fleece or non-woven material belt units which are arranged above andbelow the horizontally moving composite web 1 are oriented inclinedlytowards each other, wherein the pressing rollers 11 a, 11 b which arearranged vertically one above the other press against each otherindirectly by way of the composite material 1. The fleece or non-wovenmaterial belt units are mounted pivotably and the upper pressing roller11 a is pressed indirectly against the lower pressing roller 11 b bymeans of a pressing ram 23.

After the preliminary drying operation at 5, the composite web 1continues to pass horizontally into a substantially closed main dryingbox 26 which has a main drying suction removal means 27 for themoisture-laden air and a main drying inlet 28 by way of which inparticular dried air passes into the main drying box 26.

In addition, arranged in succession in the travel direction 10 in themain drying box are a plurality of curved heating surfaces 12 a, 12 b,12 c which can be heated independently of each other. The compositematerial 1 passes over the outward sides of the curved heating surfaces12 a, 12 b, 12 c, . . . , which are curved around axes of curvature 8 a,8 b, and are disposed transversely with respect to the travel direction10 alternately above and below the main direction of travel of thematerial through the main drying assembly 6 so that the compositematerial is curved twice at least in each direction of curvature.

A respective direction-changing roller 29 a, 29 b is arranged upstreamof the first heating surface 12 a and downstream of the last heatingsurface 12 d. Arranged approximately at the center of the main dryingbox 26 between the heating surfaces 12 b and 12 c is a pair of driverollers 30 a, 30 b, between which the composite material 1 is passed.

So that the composite web 1 does not deviate laterally from thedirection 10 in which it travels through the apparatus, lateral controlmust be afforded in particular while the web is passing through the dipregion 4 and the drying region 5 and 6. For that purpose the spacing ofthe edge of the composite web 1, which is closer to the central wall 37,is measured, and in the event of a deviation the angle of thedirection-changing rollers 18 or the dip rollers 19 relative to thecentral wall 37 is slightly altered. The spacing of the edge of thecomposite web relative to the central wall 37 is detected in that caseby lateral edge sensing devices 39, for suitable adjustment of theappropriate rollers or reels.

If a defective lateral spacing is detected for example in the region ofthe dip region 4, then for example the spacing of the delivery reel 13which is displaceable in the axial direction, relative to the centralwall 37, is regulated. In addition, the angle of the direction-changingrollers 18 and/or the dip rollers 19 relative to the central wall 37 isslightly variable. This alters the direction of travel of the compositematerial 1 in web form and thus represents the lateral control effectwhich is monitored by the lateral edge sensors 39.

If in contrast a defective lateral spacing is detected in the region ofthe drying section 5, 6, then one of the drive rollers 30 a, 30 b is atleast slightly pivoted with respect to a pivot axis extendingtransversely with respect to the direction in which the rollers extend,in order thereby to be able to control lateral deflection or straightahead movement of the composite web 1. For that purpose thecorresponding drive roller 30 a, 30 b is supported in a pivot orself-aligning bearing as the drive roller, like all units of thecorresponding apparatus, is fixed only at one end to a central wall andextends therefrom in freely cantilevered relationship.

For the purposes of lateral adjustment the downstream-disposed rollers 9a, 9 b, 31 a, 31 b, 32 a, 32 b, 33 a, and 33 b can also be adjustable inrespect of their angle relative to the central wall 37.

Connected downstream of the main drying station 6 is a pull-off station7 and a cutting station 17 for cutting the central material 3 in webform into individual sheets.

In the pull-off station 7, the composite material 1 firstly passesthrough guide rollers 31 a, 31 b which align the composite material 1 sothat it is guided for example horizontally between the subsequentlydisposed detachment rollers 9 a, 9 b.

The detachment rollers 9 a, 9 b are arranged relatively closelydownstream of the guide rollers 31 a, 31 b so that the compositematerial 1 is guided straight, that is to say, no bend occurs in thepath of movement between the pairs of rollers, and thus the linings 2 aand 2 b at the top side and the underside of the composite material canbe uniformly simultaneously pulled off.

Disposed between the detachment station 7 and the cutting station 17 isa loop-forming assembly comprising a first pair of loop rollers 32 a, 32b and a second pair of loop rollers 33 a, 33 b which are drivenseparately. Stopping the second pair of loop rollers 33 a, 33 b, whilecontinuing the drive to the first pair of loop rollers 32 a, 32 b,causes the formation therebetween of an increasing loop of centralmaterial 3 while the downstream-disposed cutting station 13 can cut thestopped central material 3. After the stoppage, the pair of loop rollers33 a, 33 b are driven forwardly by precisely one sheet length, beforethe sheet is cut off by the cutting blade 34 of the cutting station 17.

The linings 2 a, 2 b are detached from the central material 3 at thedetachment rollers 9 a, 9 b and moved away from each other in an upwardand a downward direction respectively, in each case through a 90° angle.The upper and lower linings 2 a, 2 b are then wound on to a lining reel16 a, 16 b arranged above and below the composite web 1 respectively.Connected downstream of the cutting station 17 is a conveyor belt forthe individual sheets and an inclined sheet deposit table 35 on whichthe individual sheets are stacked.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for detaching the lining of a thincomposite material from a central material, wherein the detachmentoperation is effected in a continuous procedure whereby the compositematerial is in the form of a substantially endless web, the compositematerial passes as a treatment region successively through an initialdissolution region and a deactivation region in each of which moistureis fed to the composite material, wherein the residence times in saidindividual regions are controllable independently of each other, anoperation for the preliminary removal of moisture from the compositematerial is effected at least at the end of each of those regions, thecomposite material is subjected to a drying operation after the last ofsaid regions, and the lining is released from the central material bytheir being moved away from each other.
 2. A process as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the treatment region further has a rinsing regiondownstream of the initial dissolution region and the deactivationregion.
 3. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the initialdissolution region and the deactivation region are separately formed asfluid-filled dip regions.
 4. A process as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe initial dissolution region and the deactivation region are formed asregions which act on the composite material by means of steam.
 5. Aprocess as set forth in claim 1, wherein the treatment region furtherhas a rinsing region downstream of the initial dissolution region andthe deactivation region and the rinsing region is formed as afluid-filled region.
 6. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein thetreatment region further has a rinsing region downstream of the initialdissolution region and the deactivation region and the rinsing region isformed as a region which acts on the composite material by means ofsteam.
 7. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the initialdissolution region and the deactivation region are each of a multi-stageconfiguration formed by spaces which are separate from each other withineach region.
 8. A process as set forth in claim 2, wherein the initialdissolution region, the deactivation region and the rinsing region areeach of a multi-stage configuration formed by spaces which are separatefrom each other within each region.
 9. A process as set forth in claim1, wherein curvature of the composite material is effected at least inthe region of the final drying operation.
 10. A process as set forth inclaim 9, wherein the curvature includes successively oppositely directedcurvatures in different bending directions of the composite material.11. A process as set forth in claim 9, wherein the curvature of thecomposite material is a curvature about an axis of curvaturetransversely with respect to the travel direction.
 12. A process as setforth in claim 1, wherein the final drying operation is effected byconvection on the basis of contact with heated, non-absorbent surfaces.13. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein when detaching first andsecond linings disposed on respective outward sides of the centralmaterial the detachment operation is effected simultaneously at the samelocation in the movement through the procedure by the linings beingmoved away from each other in diametral directions and by the centralmaterial being continued in its movement in the travel direction.
 14. Aprocess as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the initial dissolutionregion the composite material is brought into contact with an aqueoussolution which contains between 1 and 5%, of enzymes, and is at atemperature of between 50 and 65° C.
 15. A process as set forth in claim14, wherein said solution contains about 2% of enzymes.
 16. A process asset forth in claim 14, wherein said temperature is about 60° C.
 17. Aprocess as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the deactivation region thecomposite material is heated to at least 70° C.
 18. A process as setforth in claim 17, wherein the composite material is between about 70and 80° C.
 19. A process as set forth in claim 17, wherein the compositematerial is heated by being brought into contact by means of suitablytemperature-controlled aqueous solution.
 20. A process as set forth inclaim 19, wherein said solution is the aqueous solution of the initialdissolution region.
 21. Apparatus for detaching the lining of a thincomposite material from a central material, including the followingcomponents in succession in the travel direction through the apparatus adip region comprising successively disposed dip containers, a maindrying means with heated curved heating surfaces, and a pull-off stationwith a mutually oppositely acting pair of detachment rollers operable tomove the lining on the one hand and the central material on the otherhand away from each other.
 22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21including in the dip region for dipping the composite material dip arms,dip rollers and means for displacing the dip rollers vertically alongthe dip arms into the dip containers, and direction-changing rollersarranged above and outside the dip containers, the composite material inweb form being guided around the underside of the dip rollers and overthe top side of the direction-changing rollers.